Frequently Asked Questions

We can receive and process a full range of imported goods including food, alcohol, electronics, consumer goods and industrial materials. Our customs bonded warehouse holds a Type A Approval and can fulfil all logistics associated with imported goods.

In addition to our bonded warehouses, we also offer general warehousing services that are fully secured and just 10 minutes from Luton Airport. We offer both bonded and non-bonded warehousing depending on whether you wish to defer customs fees and store goods for longer. If you’d like advice on specific goods, please call us and we can help.

If you wish to keep your imported goods safe while customs fees are being paid, then storage in a bonded warehouse is the best option. If you have already paid any associated customs fees, then you may wish to store them in general warehouse storage.

Bonded warehouses ensure all imported goods are stored safely for as long as necessary while any associated customs fees and paperwork is being handled. In contrast, non-bonded warehouses often have stricter time limits on how long they can keep goods in storage.

Border delays, additional customs checks and increased administrative costs have put pressure on imports post-Brexit. As such, importers have had to rely on a higher amount of warehouse storage to ensure that supply chains remain consistent.

Upon arrival in the UK, import duties are levied on the wholesale price of goods. These also include the cost of insurance, freight, and duty, plus VAT, which can range between 0 and 20% depending on the imported product.

HMRC customs bonded warehouses with Type A Approval can handle and store any imported goods while import duty and VAT payments are deferred. This can include any imported products including consumables, clothes, electronics and more.

Wet bonded warehouses can store alcohol, tobacco, and any other excise goods, whether the duty has been paid or not. Dry bonded warehouses are for storing non-alcoholic products and other excise-applicable goods.

Freight forwarding is one of the most reliable, efficient, fast, and affordable options for shipping available to eCommerce stores. They will ensure your goods comply with international shipping regulations and allow you to track your goods throughout the shipping process.

Freight forwarding handles the entire logistics of exporting and importing goods on behalf of shippers. It involves handling all processes related to loading and unloading, transport, customs, insurance and other tasks related to importing goods.

D2D, or door to door shipping, is a delivery method where goods are simply picked up from one location and delivered to another. While convenient for simple deliveries, this shipping method does not handle processes such as customs clearance.

Most freight forwarders do not provide automatic insurance on goods they handle, so separate insurance for your goods is recommended. Consider the value, weight, amount and fragility of the goods you are shipping when choosing insurance coverage.

As bonded warehouses are licenced by the UK government they are required to have insurance on any goods they store. This ensures the products remain protected even if they remain in storage for an extended period.

The most difficult items to ship overseas are fragile items such as glassware, antiques, electronics and mirrors. These goods require special shipping and handling procedures to make sure they arrive at their destination intact.